Teachers, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, provide valuable services at all levels of society. You may be attracted to the idea of joining one of these professions because you like working with people or have a genuine desire to help others. Although you can make a good living in any of these professions, salaries are not really comparable due to variables such as the place of employment, tenure, experience and the state in which they work.

About Teachers

Teachers may work in public or private schools, where they instruct students on the basics of math and reading at a kindergarten level, introduce more complex subjects such as chemistry and algebra in high school or teach highly complex topics intended to prepare a student for employment or academic work at the university level. Educational preparation ranges from a bachelor’s degree for a kindergarten or elementary teacher to a master's or doctoral degree for those who teach in university settings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Salaries for Teachers

Salaries for teachers vary according to the age of the students and the subject taught. As of May 2011, the BLS reported that preschool teachers had an average annual salary of $52,350, while middle school teachers made $55,780 and high school teachers made $56,760. Post-secondary teachers in colleges and universities had an average annual salary of $74,360 in 2011, but the BLS noted the salary could vary according to the subject taught. A post-secondary engineering teacher could earn an average of $97,260, an agricultural sciences post-secondary teacher could earn an average of $83,840, and a teacher of psychology could earn an average of $74,890.

About Registered Nurses

A registered nurse provides direct care to patients, educates and provides emotional support to patients and families. RNs may work in a wide variety of health care settings, from hospitals to clinics to home care. Educational preparation varies as well; an RN may obtain an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree or a diploma from an approved nursing program. RNs may also progress to the doctorate level. RNs must pass a standardized exam before they can obtain a license to practice.

Salaries for Registeered Nurses

A registered nurse earned an average salary of $69,110 in 2011, according to the BLS. The place of employment affected salary, with an average of $69,810 in general medical and surgical hospitals and an average of $72,890 for nurses working in the office of a physician. Nurses who worked in nursing care facilities had the lowest average salary at $60,830. Salaries for RNs also varied by region in 2011, with an average high of $90,860 for California and an average low of $53,300 in Iowa.

About Licensed Practical Nurses

The LPN may perform similar tasks to those performed by an RN, but LPNs are not independent practitioners and usually work under the supervision of an RN or physician. LPNs complete a one-year program in a community college or technical/vocational school. LPNs are licensed and must pass a written exam to obtain licensure. Although LPNs may work in hospitals, they are also to be found in clinics, physicians' offices, nursing homes and home care.

Salaries for LPNs

LPNs and LVNs had an average salary of $42,040 in 2011, according to the BLS. LPNs in a hospital had an average salary of $41,060 while LPNs in home health care made $43,160. An LPN in a physician’s office could expect to make an average of $38,440 a year. Connecticut, Nevada, Rhode Island New Jersey and California were the top-paying states for LPNs in 2011, with average annual salaries ranging from $53,010 in Connecticut to $51,130 in California. West Virginia was the lowest-paid state for LPNs, with an average annual salary of $33,300.

About the Author

Beth Greenwood is an RN and has been a writer since 2010. She specializes in medical and health topics, as well as career articles about health care professions. Greenwood holds an Associate of Science in nursing from Shasta College.